Accutane Asbestos Avandia Bextra Chantix Construction Accidents Duragesic Pain Patch Gadolinium MRI Fosamax Ketek

Kugel Hernia Patch Lead Poisoning Medtronic Mesothelioma Ortho Evra Paxil Sexual Assaults Singulair Tamiflu Trasylol

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Asbestos & Mesothelioma

Asbestos is a naturally occurring strong mineral fiber that is resistant to heat and has many desirable properties. Because asbestos fibers are resistant to heat and most chemicals, they have been used as insulation materials in many residential and commercial buildings throughout the country. Asbestos exposure can cause Mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a relatively rare form of cancer in which malignant (cancerous) cells are found in the thin lining (membrane), called the mesothelium, a protective sac that covers most of the body’s internal organs including the lungs, chest, abdomen, and heart. If you have suffered from asbestos exposure or asbestosis you should seek consultation with an asbestos lawyer.

Lead Poisoning

Lead poisoning affects virtually every system in the body, and often occurs with no distinctive symptoms. Lead is particularly harmful to the developing brain and nervous system of fetuses and young children. Lead poisoning can damage a child's central nervous system, kidneys, and reproductive system and, at higher levels, can cause coma, convulsions, and death. Even low levels of lead are harmful and are associated with decreased intelligence, impaired neurobehavioral development, decreased stature and growth, and impaired hearing acuity.

Chantix

Chantix is a prescription medicine to help adults stop smoking. Chantix has not been studied in children under 18 years of age. Chantix is not recommended for children under 18 years of age. Do not take Chantix if you are allergic to anything in it. The FDA has received reports of suicidal thoughts and aggressive and erratic behavior in patients who have taken Chantix, a smoking cessation product.

Singulair

Singulair is taken to prevent and treat asthma. Singulair is used to treat asthma and the symptoms of allergic rhinitis (sneezing, stuffy nose, runny nose, itching of the nose) and to prevent exercise-induced asthma. Do not take Singulair to relieve an asthma attack. It is not a replacement for the quick help that short acting inhalers provide during an asthma attack. It is very important that you continue taking your other asthma medicines unless your health care provider tells you to stop.

Trasylol

Trasylol, or aprotinin, aids the body's ability to prevent bleeding. Trasylol works to slow or prevent bleeding, and is used to reduce blood loss and the need for blood transfusion during some types of heart surgeries. The New England Journal of Medicine suggests that Trasylol administration may increase the risk for serious side-effects among some patients undergoing heart surgery, including serious kidney damage, heart attack (myocardial infarction) and stroke.

Tamiflu

Tamiflu is for treating adults, adolescents, and pediatric patients 1year of age and older with the flu whose flu symptoms started within the last day or two. There have been reports since Tamiflu became available of patients causing self-injury or experiencing delirium (confusion, hallucinations, speech problems) while using Tamiflu. The reports were mostly in children. It is not known whether the cause of these reports is due to Tamiflu use. Side Effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, bronchitis, stomach pain, headaches, and dizziness.

Avandia

Avandia, along with diet and exercise, lowers blood sugar and can help keep it under control. Avandia does this by helping your body use its own natural insulin better. Avandia improves blood sugar control in adults with type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes. Avandia can cause or worsen heart failure. If you have severe heart failure (very poor pumping ability of the heart), you cannot be started on Avandia. Avandia is also not recommended if you have heart failure with symptoms (such as shortness of breath or swelling) even if these symptoms are not severe.

Ketek

Ketek is the brand name for Telithromycin, an FDA approved antibiotic drug, which belongs to the ketolide class. Ketek (telithromycin) is used for the treatment of bacterial infections such as community-acquired pneumonia, acute bacterial sinusitis and acute bacterial exacerbation of chronic bronchitis. Ketek received an update to it's label on June 29, 2006 to specificly highlight the warnings section of the labeling to raise attention to the risk of liver toxicity associated with Ketek and strengthen the warnings for patients with myasthenia gravis. The new labeling information is based on a review of safety data relating to hepatic adverse event reports.

Ortho Evra

Ortho Evra is a weekly prescription patch that releases ethinyl estradiol (an estrogen hormone) and norelgestromin (a progestin hormone) through the skin into the blood stream. The FDA advises women to talk to their doctor or healthcare provider about whether the patch is the right method of birth control for them. Ortho Evra recently updated it's warning label to warn healthcare providers and patients that this product exposes women to higher levels of estrogen than most birth control pills. Ortho Evra was the first skin patch approved for birth control.

Accutane

Accutane is used to treat a type of severe acne (nodular acne) that has not been helped by other treatments, including antibiotics. However, Accutane can cause serious side effects. Before starting Accutane, discuss with your prescriber how bad your acne is, the possible benefits of Accutane, and its possible side effects, to decide if Accutane is right for you. Your prescriber will ask you to read and sign a form or forms indicating you understand some of the serious risks of Accutane.

Bextra

Bextra is the brand name for valdecoxib, a COX-2 selective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) which is indicated for the treatment of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and dysmenorrhea (menstrual pain). Bextra and all NSAID medications can cause stomach ulcers that bleed. The chance of this serious problem increases the longer you take Bextra, but it can also happen suddenly. Possible side effects include nausea, indigestion, stomach pain, upper respiratory tract infection, diarrhea and headaches.

Fosamax

Fosamax is a bisphosphonate drug that helps to increase bone mass. Bisphosphonates are a class of drugs used primarily to increase bone mass and reduce the risk for fracture in patients with osteoporosis. On May 3, 2007, an issue of The New England Journal of Medicine describe increased rates of serious atrial fibrillation (defined by the authors as life-threatening or resulting in hospitalization or disability) in two different studies of older women with osteoporosis treated with the bisphosphonates, Reclast and Fosamax.

Duragesic Pain Patch

Duragesic has been potentially linked to hundreds of accidental fentanyl overdoses and deaths. On February 12, 2008, PriCara, a Division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals recalled all lots of 25 microgram/hour (mcg/hr) DURAGESIC® (fentanyl transdermal system) CII patches sold by PriCara in the United States and all 25 mcg/hr fentanyl patches sold by Sandoz Inc. in the United States. The fentanyl patches being recalled may have a cut along one side of the drug reservoir within the patch. The result is possible release of fentanyl gel from the gel reservoir into the pouch in which the patch is packaged, exposing patients or caregivers directly to fentanyl gel.

Kugel Hernia Mesh Patch

Davol, Inc. started recalling the Kugel Hernia Patch in December of 2005 for all lots manufactured before 2006. Six different products in the patch line have been recalled. The reason for the recall is that the "memory recoil ring" that opens the Bard® Composix® Kugel® Mesh Patch can break under the stress of placement of the large sized products in the intra-abdominal (inside the belly area) space. This can lead to bowel perforations (rupture) and/or chronic (recurring) intestinal fistulae (abnormal connections or passageways between the intestines and other organs).

Gadolinium

Gadolinium is a paramagnetic metal ion. Paramagnetic ions, such as gadolinium, move differently within a magnetic field. This trait makes gadolinium useful for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). GBCAs are approved by FDA for use with MRI as a contrast agent to provide an improved image of body organs and tissues. Patients who have severe renal insufficiency (severe kidney disease)are at risk and the FDA recommends that if a physician has requested an MRI or MRA study with a contrast agent, ask if the use of the contrast agent is essential.

Medtronic Sprint Fidelis Leads

Sprint Fidelis Leads are specific models of cardiac electrodes (thin wires) that connect an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) or cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator (CRT-D) directly to the heart. Medtronic, Inc., is voluntarily suspending worldwide distribution of the Sprint Fidelis family of defibrillation leads. This includes four Sprint Fidelis Models: 6930, 6931, 6948, and 6949. The devices are being recalled because of the potential for lead fractures. These electronic wires are prone to fracture in a small number of patients. This could cause the defibrillator to deliver unnecessary shock or to not operate at all. Some deaths and other serious injuries have been reported in which a fracture in a Medtronic Sprint Fidelis lead may have been a possible or likely contributing factor.

Paxil Heart Defects

Paxil is in a class of medicines called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Paxil is primarily used to treat anxiety, depression and panic disorder. Babies delivered to mothers taking Paxil late in pregnancy have developed problems, such as difficulty breathing and feeding. Babies delivered to mothers taking Paxil early in pregnancy are sometimes born with heart problems.

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